Sam - A Saxon

How is this getting such a good rating? The main actor did not sink his teeth into the role. Sorry for saying it. I heard great things about the series, watched it and the whole series focuses around a guy who's lived a pretty astonishing life, but the actor gives me practically no growth or transformation. He plays the same guy from beginning to end, even though the things he goes through must have had an effect on him, which it even says in the breakdown of the book.

In the beginning of the movie the actor playing Sam is supposed to be 20, but the actor, Malick Bauer looks just as old as the person the book is based on looks right now.

When you create an autobiographical piece based on a single person, the production falls or thrives with the actor portraying that role. Sadly Malick Bauer failed to make the character believable or likeable.

I love the actual themes the movie addresses and what the actor actually goes through, even going as far as picking a questionable profession early on in the series, considering his ethnicity. Great story. Disappointing acting and character development.

Why is the main actor so freaking huge? I met the real Samuel Meffire, and he's not that big or nearly as build as him.

There is this huge time jump, where they actually say, all Sam does now is train, but you see practically no difference between the Sam from 2 before that to this one. He looks just as ripped.

The fact that he was so super ripped in the beginning of the series made it hard to feel sorry for him. I'm not saying a big guy can't get pushed around, but the actor played this timid, stuttering guy where the look and what he was playing just didn't work well together. Sorry.

In episode 3 where he actually is supposed to be a strong and tough guy it starts making sense, I wish the actor would have been more disciplined and would have gone the extra mile to show us a physical difference between "early getting pushed around Sam" and late "I can beat anybody in a fight Sam."

I find it hard to feel for the protagonist. Not just because I don't think he's a great actor, even though he had some good moments in the series, but my biggest problem lies in the physical aspect of things.

He is bigger and looks stronger than anybody else in the series. So even when a group of people jump him, that all look like twigs next to him, I don't feel like he's in any real danger.

This could have been fixed very easily, by simply casting at least some actors and stunt guys who don't weigh 30kg less than him.

I like the tempo and feel of the series, but towards the end it becomes a little less interesting.

For me the series really takes off in episode 3. Maybe I am just too young to care for the whole historical, political fall of the wall situation, but the bond that is established between him and - sorry, I almost spoilered. The bond he establishes in episode 3 makes the whole series worth watching and interesting. A lot happens between the lines, which is great. It is pretty well written.

The cinematography is for German standards very good.

I must say, the only issue I really had was with the main actor. I didn't quite get a lot of his acting decisions or facial expressions at times, but other than that, it was a good watch.

I couldn't wait to watch all the episodes of Sam - A Saxon.

It was worth the wait. An emotional story is told that so many of us can relate to.

What makes it so special is that it's based on a true story.

They have chosen a super cast! I especially loved little Sam - played by Elyas Eldridge. Of course, grown-up Sam was good too.

You can really put yourself in the character's shoes. Some scenes brought tears to my eyes.

I don't want to give any spoilers. It's best to see for yourself. I loved everything about it.

I've decided to watch all the episodes again this weekend :-)

I can absolutely recommend watching it!!!!!